The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

To The Eagle:

Quoting Chaucer, “There is an end to everything, to good things as well.” So holds true with my position as the executive director of Wahkiakum Community Network. I have had the pleasure of serving this fabulous organization for the last eleven years, but it is time to free up some me-time, finally work a regular work week (at my other job at the PUD) and perhaps find a hobby or two!

Effective this month, I have resigned from the Network. I am writing to introduce Ginger Hake as my replacement as the new coordinator for Wahkiakum Community Network. Over the last decade I have had the pleasure of seeing Wahkiakum Community Network grow and solidify itself as a valuable asset to our community. For those that aren’t familiar with what the Network does, it is a remarkable coalition of board members made up of teenagers, parent volunteers, business’s, local leaders, law enforcement and community service provider representatives who meet once a month to connect together and find ways to improve the lives of our youth and families.

Since the organization began in 1996, it has invested over $1.1 million dollars in local programing such as 4-H, Search and Rescue, Family Support Services, Cispus, After School Care and many other valuable local programs designed to improve the lives of our youth and families and reduce youth substance abuse. Our community members have invested nearly 10,000 hours of their time serving on the Network’s board of directors to ensure our funds are invested in programs that work! Our board members have spent a multitude of hours reviewing progress reports to ensure these investments have achieved their objectives, worked together to host fundraisers and have invested valuable hours conducting regular assessments on community needs and it has been time well spent! Over the past decade Wahkiakum Community Network has received recognition for its performance several times over by being awarded the WA State Exceptional Results Award and due to the coalition and its valuable partnerships with service providers throughout Wahkiakum County, youth substance abuse rates have steadily declined in all substances measured (source: Healthy Youth Survey Lifetime Use, alcohol, tobacco and marijuana 1998 vs 2012).

As Ginger Hake gets settled into her new position as the coalition coordinator, one of the projects she will be working on is to get the much anticipated community center up and running. If you are out and about and have a chance to meet Ginger, stop by and say hello! If you would like to be part of this fabulous coalition, you can reach Ginger via email at admin@wahkiakumcommunitynetwork.org or visit the website at http://www.wahkiakumcommunitynetwork.org.

I would like to personally thank our community and our board members for all the time and energy they have invested into our community. It has been my pleasure working with you all!

Lia Sealund, Cathlamet